SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Mental health professionals in the Ozarks say the key to successful New Year’s resolutions lies in setting specific, attainable goals and understanding potential challenges before they arise.
Elizabeth Troutwine, a counselor with Touchstone Counseling in Ozark, uses what she calls a “magic wand” approach to help clients identify meaningful goals.
“I’ll ask them if I had a magic wand and I waved it and your life is perfect. It’s exactly what you had envisioned. What would it look like?” Troutwine said.
The exercise helps people identify areas of their lives where they feel content and areas where they want to see change, she said. Troutwine then advises clients to create specific daily or weekly tasks that can shift their behavior toward their desired outcome.
Finding the right fitness environment
For people whose resolutions include returning to the gym, Christina Lashmet with Honey’s Barbell, a women-only gym in Springfield, said the first step is finding a comfortable environment.
“When you find a location that you’re interested in, ask to see if you can have a tour. If somebody can show you around the space, that way you can get a feel for what they’re about and see what they offer,” Lashmet said.
She recommends nervous beginners look for classes that build both knowledge and community. Honey’s Barbell offers a Strength 101 class where Lashmet teaches weight-lifting techniques and equipment use.
“I teach them how to maneuver around this equipment and what different exercises are going to benefit them and what type of strength movements are going to benefit them,” Lashmet said.
Planning for obstacles
Both experts emphasized the importance of anticipating challenges and maintaining patience with progress.
“If we’ve done the same routine for all of 2025, it’s going to take a little bit of intention to reach your goal in 2026 or whatever goal you have set for yourself. And so I encourage taking time, riding out your obstacles, seeing where your potential pitfalls can be and having a proactive approach to reaching that goal,” Troutwine said.
Both Lashmet and Troutwine said impatience with progress is the biggest reason resolutions are abandoned. They recommend staying focused on daily changes that can help resolutions last beyond January.
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